Saracens are the sole English representatives in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup once again, but they have a glorious chance to claim a third European title.
By finishing the pool stage with a perfect six victories, Mark McCall’s men claimed the No 1 seeding and a home quarter-final against Glasgow — a repeat of the fixture they won with room to spare on Saturday.
Another win over the Scottish side would propel them into a semi-final against Edinburgh or Munster, armed with home-country advantage.
Maro Itoje produced a man of the match display against Glasgow at Allianz Park
In fact, they don’t have to venture beyond their own border from now on, with the final to be staged in Newcastle on May 11.
Some of their leading rivals do not have such comfort. Leinster, the holders and favourites, will expect to dispatch Ulster in an all-Irish last-eight contest in Dublin.
But if Racing 92 beat Toulouse in Paris, Leo Cullen’s team would have to go to France for a daunting semi-final. Leinster may be the best team in Europe, but they are not on the best route.
Toulouse have been revitalised this season, but Racing have formidable power. The same dynamic applies to the fourth quarter-final — Edinburgh are transformed under Richard Cockerill, but Munster have the spirit and strength and pedigree to win in the Scottish capital. That should be the only away win.
This column can foresee the semi-finals being Saracens v Munster and Racing v Leinster.
At least the English champions are still in the hunt, unlike the rest of the Premiership contenders, who have fallen by the wayside.
Exeter were beyond brave in going down narrowly to Munster in Limerick, but the general picture is of a dire campaign for the Premiership clubs. They played 40 pool matches and won only 14. The Anglo-Irish contests were no such thing with Leinster, Munster and Ulster winning nine out of 10 and drawing the other.
This is the down-side to having a league founded on relentless competitive intensity and the spectre of relegation.
Saracens lift the Champions Cup after defeating Clermont in Edinburgh in May 2017
Since Saracens won the top European prize in May, 2017, the other English clubs who have featured in the Champions Cup have managed a 31 per cent win rate.
They have all been easy prey for teams who are better rested and managed.
In 2014, the old Heineken Cup was overhauled after a rebellion by the English and French.
Two years later, those countries secured a quarter-final duopoly, with three sides from the Top 14 and five from the Premiership.
But the Celts have rallied so successfully that Scotland have twice as many qualifiers this time as England.
It gives the tournament variety. And it feels like karma.
English scrums used to dominate their Celtic rivals. Not these days. Glasgow’s pack bullied Saracens in the set-piece on Saturday, with one shove prompting a mass scuffle. Hours
